Shoulder gun of recoilless type



M. E. BARKER 2,515,180

SHOULDER GUN oF REcoILLEss TYPE July 1s, 195o 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Dec. 5, 1945 /Cf/G. 5. ZZ

g77/M; PMI

July 18, 950 M. E. BARKER SHOULDER GUN oF REcoILLEss TYPE Filed Dec. 5, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JIM-DUBBI] n V @www m m i E/ Q ww W Patented July 18, 1950 Nrrro sATzs PATENT rca amended April 30, 1928; 370 O. G. 757) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me oi any royalty thereon.

This invention relates generally, to guns adapted to be red with the butt of the stock resting against the iront of the shoulder after the conventional manner of firing rines and Shotguns, and it has particular relation to such weapons wherein they are provided with gas take-off means permitting the use of propellant charges substantially greater than can now be used with this type of weapon. The gas take-off means reduces the recoil so that it is no greater than that ordinarily encountered with Shotguns and ries.

During the present war there have been a number oi developments directed toward providing recoilless weapons enabling the infantryman to carry his own artillery. In general, these weapons have taken the form of an elongated, light weight tube provided with a gas discharge nozzle on the rear end. The principle involved is to have the discharge nozzle so shaped and proportioned that when the weapon is iired the propellant force is counter-balanced, making the weapon substantially recoilless. An example of this type of weapon is the so-called bazooka Another ex-y ample is the |'I5-mm. recoilless cannon which has recently been given publicity in the newspapers and magazines.

As stated, these recoilless type weapons have provided the infantryrnan with a weapon vfor nring a projectile of 'a size coventionally considered to be red from artillery weapons. However, despite the success and satisfactory performance of these recoilless weapons, they have certain disadvantages. One of the more importantdisad-` vantages is that the recoil blast is of su-ch magnitude that the discharge nozzle must be well back oi the soldier using the weapon. Accordingly, these recoilless weapons are ordinarily iired by electrical means with the barrel extending over the shoulder of the soldier in a front and rear direction. Thus, the method of firing is unconventional, awkward, and different from the conventional manner of ring Shotguns and rifles with which most soldiers are thoroughly experienced and accustomed to.

Accordingly, the object of this invention is to provide a shoulder type, recoilless weapon adapted to be iired after the conventional manner of iiring rines and shotguns, but having a capacity for much greater propellant charges than can be used in Shotguns and rifles, this greater propel-- lantv capacity being possible by reason of the pro.

vision of a recoilless attachment to the weapon.

For a more complete understanding of the nature and scope of this invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description thereof taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a recoilless Weapon forming one embodiment of my invention, with the recoilless attachment removed;

Fig 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the weapon shown in' Fig. 1 with the recoilless attachment secured in place; i Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section 'through the elbow section of the recoilless| attachment, taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is a right end elevational View of the el-'v bow section'as shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan View of the bottom end of the elbow section as shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the cartridge chamd ber of the weapon takenl on line G-B of Fig. 1;

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary top plan View of a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 8 is alpartial vertical sectional view taken on line 8 8 of Fig. 7'; and

Fig. 9 is a side elevational view of al cartridge casing adapted for use in the weapon shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

Referring' to the drawings, a weapon is shown generally at' l0 in Figs l and 2 which is basically a standard l2-gagev shotgun modified in accordance with the present invention. The gun l0 is of the type which breaks at the line II and pivots aroundva pin I2 so as to open up thebreech end of the barrel I3, permitting a cartridge to be inserted in the cartridge 'chamber I4. The barrel I3 is held closed in the position shown in Fig. 1 by means of a'l'ocking lever I5, The muzzle end of the barrel I3 is reinforced with a plurality of rings I6 so as to enable it to withstand greater gas pressures. vThe trigger mechanism for firing the Weapon l0 is that of the conventional, single barrel shotgun;

In order to enable much greater propellant charges to be vusedin the weapon l0 than can be used with the ordinary shotgun, without increasing the recoil shock, a gas take-off, indicated generally at 20, Fig. 2, is provided. The gas takeoi 2li comprises an elbow section 2l (shown in detail in Figs. 3, l and 5), a tubular section 22,A and a Venturi-shaped nozzle 23 secured on t end of the tubular section 22.

As shownin Figs. 1 and 6, an exhaust opening 25 is formed in the side of the cartridge chamber I4, the breech `end of. the barrel yI3 being built up on this side so as to permit a flat Wall 2B to be machined around the discharge opening 25,V

which may be tapped in a number of places 21.

The inlet end of the elbow section 2l is shaped correspondingly to the ignition chamber exhaust opening 25 so that it may be securely connected thereto in tgas-tight relationship by ,a plurality of bolts asshownin Eig. 2. fThefelboWsection 2| is strengthened by -webs 3l and 32.

The length of the tubular section 2&2 is such that when the weapon I is held in the conventional position for aiming and `iiring, vthe nozzle-123 will be positioned over and to therearpf .the up` per arm or shoulder of the person firing the weapon.

The Weapon I0 is particularly adapted.v to iire the standard rifle grenade provided with a'standard impact fuse. This is nowffiired; from ,rines with the butts resting on the grou-ndlfor support. One form of cartridgecontainer used with the new weapon was in the 'form foi-aflong, perforated brass `cylinder containing alarge propellant chargefsimilar to ftliat used 2in them-nim. recoil lessvrie. The grenade tov be fired may be den signed; tocontain one pint of liquid illirigl of a density about equal to that or water or it' may bewfllledz withv an equalfoua'ntity of white phosphorus ory withia. hollow charge type HEI (high explosive) filling.

w An'qimproved modification of the invention is slflown'xinfIigs. .7, 8.and 9. Referring to Figs.y -7 and 8, a weapon is shoving-generally at 35 compnsing a barrel .36land`a gas italie-oir 31'. The breech end of the barrel-3- isperforated so as to form a shell chamber 3&.hayfingraplurality of blast holes 4,0-, The endfvotthe-chamber 38 is counterbored fat 4cl1so 'as to tomi .-arecessl for Vthe flange-.4220i the perforatedshellg's shown inFig. 9. The shell `I3-fis preferably vformed of brass andinas perforations 44A arranged tocoincide with perforations 40- of chamber- 38. However, the v.perforations 44-v ,are-preferably slightly larger than perforationsrwi.

iI-'n'iorder toinsure the `proper alignment of the perforations of shell 4ax-,with Iperfor-"ations 40 of chamber 38, a keyity :isiprovided' on lthe shell 43 and-,a corresponding'` recessfor notchileis formed in the end of chamber 38.

f The; gas :take-off 31 the-formf of an elbow section-.tilly and atubular section 151|. A discharge nozzle-52 is secured on Ither -end -oftubeif. The elbow section' 50 at one-end surrounds and isl spaced apart from the chamber A38.' in 'a gasv tight marmer being -.preferably welded thereto as in dcated at 551 andat the-otherend joins the tube 5i, asshown. The.shapeand-,size of elbow sec-v tion- 5i)vv is such as to: pnov-idea sleeve-shaped chamber '53 around chamber 38.- The elbow section 50f-issecured tothe gunl barrel around the chamber -38- in. a .gas .tight mannerV and. preferably Welded theretoasI indica-ted at -56 inthe drawings.

Weapon 354 shown Vin Figs.. 7 and 8 isY easier to manufacture, is morezeffectiye', and more sat'- i-sfactory in operation,. than weapon l0 shown inYFigsl-G. The barrel' 360i Weapon 35 is-pref erably lil-gagev in size which-makes- Weapon 35' moreA powerful thanweapon ID. The perforated; constructionA of ther barrel chamber 38 and the cartridge; 43 permits the blast pressure to be instantaneously equalized inthe bore-of the gun, aswell asin the blast chamber y53.

It will be seen that thenevv` Weapon provided bythe invention vcan "bey aimed and-'fired in the conventional manner. It isav-one-man weapon" and; does not require. a .crew toserve it. There are no electrical contacts to get out of order. The weapon is loaded in a simple manner, well known to all soldiers and Sportsmen. It is believed that this Weapon will nd great use in projecting gas, smoke, and high explosives into pillboxes, and cave fortifications. The recoil from this Weapon in firing a two-pound projectile to a1 rangeof (350'yards, is no Agreater than that delivered by an ordinary 12-gage shotgun.

Although only two specific embodiments of the invention have been described above and sho-Wn -in the accompanying drawings, it will be under- .stood that other embodiments and modifications will' be apparent to those skilled in the art. Ac-

Jcordingly,.the` foregoing disclosure of the invention iaintended to be illustrative 'and is not to be construed in a limiting sense.

'1. A gun ofY the recoilless type adapted to` be fired with the butt of the gun resting against the fron-tof the shoulder of the -gunner in the conventional manner vof ringrifles kand shot guns which `comprises in combination a gun stock, a gun barrel rigidly secured to Vvsaid stock, said barrel having a. cartridge receiving chamberfin its' breech end with an exhaust opening in. the side of -said chamber, a gas take-olf comprising a hollowelbow section having an inlet end vportion rigidly secured to the barrel in a gastight manner and in operative communication with said exhaust opening `andbeing provided ywith an outlet portion smaller thanthe inlet, end portion, atubular section joined to said outletpor-V tionvv of the elbow-section; and' adischarge :nozzle provided ony the outlet end lof said tubular section, said gasY take-off extending laterally `and rearwardlyv from said exhaust opening and. the breech of Lthezgunand being so shaped that when `the gun is -held in the conventional riring position said discharge nozzle will extend. back of and. over the upper arm of the trigger finger arm.

, 2. A gun 'of' thejrecoillessltype adaptedv to` 'be' fired: With'the butt ofthe gunfresting 'against the front of the shoulder ofthe gunner in the con ventional manner of ri-ng ries and vshot guns which comprises in combination, a `single barrelshet gunk having a cartridge chamber and being provided with a vreinforced muzzle portion, an.v exhaust opening in said cartridge chamber; a gas-take-off rigidly securedto lsaid barrel in'v a gas tight manner andV comprising an elbow section having an inlet endVV portion operativelyy connected to said exhaust'opening in a gas tight' mannerV and being provided with a smaller outtubular section joined to` said outlet opening having' a Venturi-nozzle pro-vided on the outlet endofsaid tubular'section, said gasitake-off extending laterally and rearwardly from said exhaust opening yand said gunpbarrel and being' so shaped that when the gun is held in the conventional'.` ring position said discharge nozzle will extend back of and over the upper larm of the trigger finger arm and serve to reduce the recoil ofsaid. gun tosuch a degree that it can be safely fired without injury to the gun.

3. A gun of the recoillessi type adapted to be fired with the butt'of the gun resting against'the frontshoulderof the gunner in the conventional manner'ofring rifles and Shotguns, which comprises in combination, a gun stock, a gun vbarrel` attached to said stock, anda gas take-oifcon'-v nected'- with and extending laterally and rearwardly from the side Wall ofi the breech of said barrel, the discharge end of said gas take-off being clear of a person ring said gun when held in said conventional manner.

4. A gun of the recoilless type adapted to be red with the butt of the gun resting against the front shoulder of the gunner in the conventional manner of firing ries and Shotguns, which comprises in combination, a gun stock, a gun barrel attached to said stock, said gun barrel having a cartridge receiving chamber in its breech end with an exhaust opening in the side of said chamber, a gas take-olf comprising an elbow section having an inlet end shaped correspondingly to said exhaust opening and being provided with a smaller outlet opening than said exhaust opening, a tubular section joined to the outlet opening of the elbow section, and a discharge nozzle provided on the outlet end of said tubular section, and means securing said elbow section of the gas take-ofi", being operatively connected to said exhaust opening and extending laterally and rearwardly from said breech, to said barrel so as to retain it in gas-tight connection with said exhaust opening in said cartridge chamber, said gas take-off being so shaped that when the gun is held in said conventional ring position said discharge nozzle will extend back of and over the upper arm of the trigger nger arm.

5. A gun of the recoilless type adapted to be fired with the butt of the gun resting against the front shoulder of the gunner in the conventional manner of ring rifles and Shotguns, which comprises in combination, a single barrel standard 12-gage shotgun with reinforced muzzle, an elongated exhaust opening in one side of the cartridge chamber of the gun barrel, 'a gas take-off secured to said barrel comprising an elbow section having an inlet end shaped to t said exhaust opening and being provided with a smaller outlet opening than said exhaust opening, a straight tubular section joined to said elbow outlet opening, and a Venturi nozzle provided on the outlet end of said tubular section, and means securing said elbow section to said barrel so as to retain it in gas-tight connection with said exhaust opening in said cartridge chamber, said gas take-off being operatively connected to said exhaust opening and extending laterally and rearwardly from said breech and being so shaped that when the gun is held in said conventional firing position said discharge nozzle will extend back of and over the upper arm of the trigger' finger arm and said gas take-off serve to reduce the recoil of said gun to a point where it can safely and comfortably be red with the butt of the gun resting against the shoulder of the gunner.

6. A gun of the recoilless type adapted to be red with the butt of the gun resting against the front shoulder of the gunner in the conventional manner of ring rifles and Shotguns, which comprises in combination, a gun stock, a gun barrel attached to said stock, and a gas take-olf mounted on the breech end of said barrel, said gun barrel being perforated at its breech end so as to form a perforated shell chamber, said gas takeoff extending outwardly from said shell chamber and laterally and rearwardly from said breech and comprising an elbow section and a tubular section, said elbow section having an inlet end and an outlet end smaller than its inlet end, said inlet end surrounding said shell chamber in spaced gas tight relationship so as to provide a sleeve-shaped blast chamber, said tubular section being joined at one end to said outlet end of said elbow section and having a discharge nozzle provided on its other end, said gas take-off being so shaped than when said gun is held in said conventional ring position said discharge nozzle will extend back of and over the upper arm of the trigger finger arm.

MAURICE E. BARKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

FOREIGN PATENTS OTHER REFERENCES Richmond Times Dispatch, Apr. 21, 1943. The Coast Artillery Journal, pages 32-36, May-June 1945. 

